Real Takk Podcast
Hosted by Takk Yamaguchi, the founding agents of Compass. (formally known as Urban Compass). This channel discusses all things real estate tech, national markets, brokerage, management, & operations with some of the best & brightest minds in the industry. Follow Takk at @takkyamaguchi on Twitter & IG, Takk Yamaguchi on Youtube, and his webiste www.thetakkteam.com
Episodes

Wednesday Nov 30, 2022
Episode 71: The Man, The Myth, The Legend of Forth Worth Texas, John ”JZ” Zimmerman
Wednesday Nov 30, 2022
Wednesday Nov 30, 2022
Pleased to have John Zimmerman, aka JZ, on the real takk pod. JZ & I met several years ago when he was appointed to lead the Compass' flagship office in Dallas Ft. Worth and the Greater Tarrant County area. JZ is a top-producing Ft. Worth agent for the last 30 years. A strategic growth manager once told me, “JZ is a big deal, he sells blocks upon blocks of the Dallas Fort Worth area”
He’s deeply involved in the development of the Montserrat and La Cantera neighborhoods, has been ranked the No. 1 agent in Dallas Ft. Worth for several years, ranked No. 2 in the state of Texas, and he's among the top one-half percent of agents nationwide.
Originally from Fayetteville, John studied finance and real estate at the University of Arkansas. He's lived in Ft. Worth for nearly 30 years and currently resides in the Shady Oaks Country Club neighborhood. In his free time, he enjoys golf and spending time with his children.On the pod, we discuss all things DFW, being one of the founding agents of DFW, his thoughts on real estate aggregators like Zillow & Redfin, how he got into the business, his memorable deals, the types of clients he works with, advice for newer agents coming into the business, and his favorite DFW bars & restaurants!
Please follow JZ
IG @jzfortworth,
FB at John Zimmerman,
Website www.jzforthworth.com
Please follow us on
IG @takkyamaguchi
FB: https://www.facebook.com/takk.yamaguchi
The Takk Team Compass: http://bit.ly/TakkTeamCompass
The Takk Team Page: http://bit.ly/TakkTeamPage
The Takk Team Facebook: http://bit.ly/TakkTeamFacebook
Instagram: http://bit.ly/TakkInstagram
Linkedin: http://bit.ly/TakkLinkedin
Follow The Real Takk Podcast where we discuss industry topics relating to all things real estate: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/39sf5cb...
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Podbean: https://realtakk.podbean.com/

Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
Episode 70: Daisuke ”Kai” Ioh, Compass Hawaii Kona
Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
Wednesday Nov 16, 2022
Pleased to bring on top agent Daisuke “Kai” Ioh, one of the founding agents of Compass Hawaii. Kai is ranked among the top 16 Real Estate agents in the State of Hawaii in 2021, and the top 1.5% of 1.4M real estate agents in the US in 2021 and 2022 by Wall Street Journal Real Trends. Since 2015, Hawaii MLS has ranked Kai in the top 25 of all Hawaii Big Island real estate agents. Kai recorded the highest residential transaction in Big Island history at $37 million in 2020, the highest residential transaction sale in the State of Hawaii for that year. He was also involved in a $133 million residential transaction in California.
We go over several topics including:
-The differences in each of the Island in Hawaii
-Some of the big names that own & resides on each island
-Biggest wins & losses in 2022?
-Why you got into real estate
-What are some tips or advice that you can share with up & coming professionals in our field?
Please follow Kai on
IG @kai.ioh
FB: https://www.facebook.com/kai.ioh.1
Compass: https://www.compass.com/agents/kai-ioh/
Please follow us on
IG @takkyamaguchi
FB: https://www.facebook.com/takk.yamaguchi
The Takk Team Compass: http://bit.ly/TakkTeamCompass
The Takk Team Page: http://bit.ly/TakkTeamPage
The Takk Team Facebook: http://bit.ly/TakkTeamFacebook
Instagram: http://bit.ly/TakkInstagram
Linkedin: http://bit.ly/TakkLinkedin
Follow The Real Takk Podcast where we discuss industry topics relating to all things real estate: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/39sf5cb...
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Podbean: https://realtakk.podbean.com/

Monday Oct 31, 2022
Monday Oct 31, 2022
An honor to have one of the Founding members of Compass NC & Raleigh Johnny Chappell on The Real Takk Pod. Johnny is the Founder & CEO of Chapel, a real estate firm at compass Led by top Triangle real estate broker & developer Johnny Chappell. He is ranked amongst the top 1% of brokers in the Triangle and boasts 15+ years of real estate industry experience.
A few more facts of John: He’s a graduate of of UNC Chapel Hill, was a news anchor for time Warner cable for 6 years for a 24 hour news channel, was a sports anchor, & a photo journalist. He has a face for radio & video, is a dog person, and his favorite binge show is The Office. Please follow Johnny Chapel @chappellres, YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/chappellres, & www.chappellres.com/
If you are looking for real estate opportunities in the Raleigh NC area, there is a wealth of information you can be sure to gain from working with Johnny & his team.
Show Notes:
Chappel Chats: Interview with Mayor Mary-Ann Balwin
Raleigh places to eat:
Beasley's Chicken & Waffles @Beasleys_Raleigh
Death & Taxes @deathandtaxesnc
Sushi Mon @sushimon_raleigh
Top of the Hill @topofthehill
Topics of Discussion:
Where are you from and how long have you lived in NC? How is public transit in the triangle? Can you hop on transit in the area?
What do you think about the tough inflation market we are in today?
FB or Instagram?
Do you have a role model in RE? Who & Why?
Describe your morning routine?
Do you have another agent you admire at Compass outside of Atlanta? If so, who & why?
Please plug a few go to bars & restaurants in the Raleigh Region that I can link & share in our episode notes, and that I should visit. (please see show notes!)
Deep dive
You had the special privilege to be the founding agent for Raleigh NC & The Triangle. Top agents are set up fairly well at their previous brokerages (whether it’s marketing dollars, house splits, nice office space, street credit, etc. I’m always fascinated by our team of recruiters who show the ability to convince the top 1% of the leaders to join. What was your story of joining Compass when it was still a relatively small name back then?
What did the RE industry look like when you started, and how has it evolved since you became the founding agent at Compass?
Tell me about a memorable deal you did since covid 2020. Why was it memorable?
Our clients in NYC city are dominated by tech founders, PE & hedge fund CEO’s, & small business owners. Who are the buyers & sellers in Atlanta Georgia?
Share us some of your knowledge. Any advice for those who are new in the business? And those that are 10-15 years in the business? 27:34 talk to the most people. You’re on the timer.
You have a fairly robust team. What do you look for in a hire? How do you hire for your team?

Monday Oct 31, 2022
Episode 68: Nick Svensson From Montecito CA Interviews Takk Yamaguchi of NYC
Monday Oct 31, 2022
Monday Oct 31, 2022
How the tables have turned! My brilliant partner in crime Nick Svensson, hailing from Santa Barbara California interviews yours truly. A few questions & topics that we gloss over on this quick episode:
Where were you born? Where did you grow up? Tell us about your beginnings
What leads to your entry into a career as a real estate broker?
What do you look for in a hire? How did you find Danielle Stout? What does she do? Do you like her? Did you have anyone else on your team before Danielle?
Every agent operates their business in their own, unique way. I gain clients from my current & past personal relationships and trust, while some agents try to lure clients in via tiktok. What is your strategy?
Do you have a favorite real estate market outside of NYC real estate?
Why is Takk the best?
Thanks for your excellent interview skills Nick! Give Nick a follow on IG: @nick_svensson & his team @svenssonbirchgroup

Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Former Chief Marketing Officer of Compass Matt Spangler joins the Real Takk Pod in discussing his recent departure from Compass, the reasons why, and what he looks forward to in the future. Matt & I go met back in the fall of 2014, at what was then a company known as Urban Compass, a small real estate firm that only had a few dozen agents, engineers, and fewer designers, marketing leads, and staff on the creative side. Matt joined as the head of creative marketing, building out a team of over a hundred members including a creative studio, account management, strategy, events, advertising, & media buying team. He also oversaw the creative direction of all brand communications and marketing by building a world-class in-house design studio that provides seamless design thinking across brand, agent, marketing, product advertising & expansion. As we expanded across the nation, Matt oversaw a marketing & creative team across more than 200 offices coast to coast.
Prior to Compass, Matt was the Executive Vice President of Content & Marketing for Tribeca Enterprises, (the owner of the film festival), along with another half a dozen creative companies, projects, and teams, he’s helped shape. Please give Matt Spangler a follow on Instagram at @Mattspangler & his linkedin here
Show Notes & Honorable mentions:
Kanoyama Restaurant @nyc_kanoyama & Chef Nobu & the Omakase Menu Info
Rob Reffkin, CEO of Compass @robertreffkin
Rob Lehman, Chief Business Officer of Compass @Robertslehman
Gordon Gollub, Chief Real Estate Officer at Compass @golubgordon

Thursday Aug 18, 2022
Thursday Aug 18, 2022
A great pleasure to have one of Compass Senior Managing Directors Dan Marrello on the Real Takk Pod. I first met Dan at Town Residential, at the time one of the fastest growing brokerages in the NYC real estate world. I was recruited around 2010 and met Dan around 2012. Prior to Town, Dan was a manager at Citi Habitats for almost 10 years. At present day, Dan helps & oversees several dozen agents & teams that up the Compass NYC offices.
Dan comes onto the pod discussing the state of the NYC rental market, the history of the rental market, why the market is broken & how it could be fixed, as well as past stories of his time at Town, and prior to that, Citi Habitats. (both firms have closed or have been acquired)
Fun fact: Dan is also an owner of four F45 training gyms in NYC which we also discuss on the pod episode.
You may follow Dan at @marrellonyc & his linkedin bio here!
Please Answer in 1- to 2 words (3 - 4 minutes total)
Ticktok & Instagram
2022 NYC Rental Market
Real Estate Reality television
TOWN Residential
Andrew Heiberger
Rent Control & Rent Stabilization
Citi Habitats
Limited Listings / Limited Exclusives
Open listings
Streeteasy
Streeteasy Building Pro / Neighborhood Expert Program
Inflation
Crypto Currency
(Bonus questions?!)
Show Notes:
Warm-Up Questions for Dan Marrello:
Where are you from? What neighborhoods have you lived in NYC?
Go to restaurant in Brooklyn & Manhattan? Campagnola NYC
Favorite NYC neighborhood & why?
What makes NYC the best city in your opinion?
Favorite city / state outside of NYC & why?
Do you have a role model in the real estate industry? Who & why?
What’s an insult that you’ve received that you’re proud of?
What’s an ideal day in NYC look like to you?
Do you have a morning routine?
Topics of Discussion
Tell me about your early days at Citi Habitats. How did you start? Where did it end?
Let’s talk about TOWN. What did you learn? How did you grow? What were some of your takeaways there throughout the years? What were the last few days like for you?
Rents are extremely high in the city this year. Could you give me 1 or 2 factors that is causing this?
Let’s go back to rent control & rent stabilization in NYC. How is this impacting owner operators, & renters in NYC?
What are some tips for New Yorkers who are moving into the city this year?
Americans, politicians, New Yorkers, in the upper, middle, & lower class all have a typical view of landlords in NYC. Perhaps greedy, maybe somewhat inhumane, an unforgiving man or women (shaking fist) etc. What is your view of landlords, and in NYC specifically, what types of groups / institutions / individuals are they?
What is a limited exclusive? How does that, if it does, the tenant community? The Brokerage community?
In what ways do you think the NYC rental systems are broken, or in need of significant improvement?

Thursday Aug 04, 2022
Episode 65: NYC Rental Market 101 with Compass Leasing Director Julia Segal
Thursday Aug 04, 2022
Thursday Aug 04, 2022
Julia is the Leasing Director of Compass NYC. She joins our pod to discuss all things related to the rental market of Manhattan. As a founder of a team that leases around 150 individual units a year, Julia & I get to discuss the complexities of the residential rental market, why the system is broken, how to better your chances of navigating this market, why brokers get all the heat & blame, and we review policies set in place that impacts consumers both positively, & negatively.
Prior to Compass, Julia was the leasing manager at BOLD, a rental brokerage that primarily focused on the representation of new development rentals across Brooklyn & Manhattan. Prior to starting her career in real estate, Julia worked in the hospitality industry in New York City. Originally from New Jersey, Julia graduated from Purchase College, State University of New York with a B.A. in Journalism.

Wednesday Jun 29, 2022
Wednesday Jun 29, 2022
I have my general contractor whom I've done dozens of renovations with on the pod to catch up on the world of renovations in NYC. Follow Phil on IG at @phil_the_ceo & his company @OLExpertContracting
Topics of Discussion with Phil:
Covid Real Estate 2020
Covid real estate 2021
“Nobody wants to work”
Supply Chain
DOB (Department of buildings)
Plumbers
Coop Boards
Coop Managing Agents
Electricians
Gas Prices
NYC
Warm-Up Questions
Go to Activity in NYC
NYC go-to restaurant
Favorite NYC neighborhood & why
What makes NYC so good to live & work in?
Favorite city/state outside of NYC area & why?
Do you have a role model in the real estate industry? Who & why?
What’s an insult that you’ve received that you’re proud of?
Do you have a morning routine?
Deep Dive into Phil Garcia's company, O & L Expert Contracting:
Give me your 20-second elevator pitch
How did you get into the general contracting business?
How do you get clients that want to renovate a home?
What is the biggest misconception when people hire contractors?
What are coop boards tough with owners that want to renovate?
Advice for future sellers in this market?
What determines the cost of a renovation?
What renovation jobs are you most proud of? How much did it cost in total?

Thursday Jun 09, 2022
Episode 63: How to Leverage Credit Card Benefits with Your Business & Life!
Thursday Jun 09, 2022
Thursday Jun 09, 2022
It is YOUR PERSONAL Financial Responsibility to learn how to utilize credit cards to your own benefit. Whether you are a business owner or an employed individual, you should understand which credit cards to open & close to ensure that you're maximizing the return on your monthly expenditures. I explain the basics of credit cards & their partnerships, the benefits of having a business EIN, and the proper thought process when you are opening & closing cards under your name.
Follow Takk on IG: @takkyamaguchi
Twitter: @takkyamaguchi
Real Takk Podcast Youtube Channel

Wednesday Apr 13, 2022
Episode 62: Adam Piore, Author of ”The Kings of New York” Published by The Real Deal
Wednesday Apr 13, 2022
Wednesday Apr 13, 2022
Pleased to chat wtih Adam Piore, an industry colleague & frequent contributor to The Real Deal, as well as the author of the new book “The New Kings of New York,” an insider account of the stories & mayhem that defined real estate’s modern gilded age. The book features extensive interviews with the titans of NYC including Related’s Steve Ross, Extell’s Gary Barnett, JDS's Michael Stern, operators of Fortress Investment Group, and more. The book reveals new details of some of the most audacious plays in the history of the city, from Kent Swig’s Downtown buying spree to Related’s bids for Hudson Yards and the Time Warner Center. On this episode, we discuss his stories he's learned while dealing with the developers of NYC, his thoughts on Manhattan's mega projets, Russian Oligarch's, The Dolphins, and more!
You may pre-order the book at any of the following:
The Real Deal website
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Follow Adam on Twitter at @adampiore